Russia Conducts Massive Nuclear Drills as Putin Visits China

Russia is holding a major combat exercise to practice preparing and using its nuclear forces at the same time as President Vladimir Putin travels to Beijing for talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

The three days of drills will involve more than 64,000 troops, 200 missile launchers, 140 aircraft, 73 surface ships and 13 submarines, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement Tuesday without specifying the number of missile launches it planned. Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces, Northern and Pacific Fleets and Long-Range Aviation Command are set to take part.